US Postal Service announces a Forever Stamp for Hindu Festival of Lights ‘Diwali’

Washington, August 24, 2016: In an announcement made on Tuesday, August 23, US Postal Service decided to issue a Diwali stamp on October 5, in the honor and respect towards the Hindu festival of Diwali at the Consulate General of India, New York.

It is the most prestigious festival of India celebrated on the eve of, or on, the new moon that occurs between mid-October and mid-November. In 2016, the main day of the festival will be celebrated on October 29 for the South Indians and Oct 30 for the North Indians. It is the celebration of the joy of the return of Lord Ram along with his wife Sita and his brother Laxman after a 14-year long exile. Saving his wife and achieving victory over the devil Ravana, they had a safe return to Ayodhya. The village people celebrated that day by lighting diyas, burning crackers, exchanging sweets and feasts, decorating their homes and wearing their best clothes and this tradition has been carried along for centuries now.

The festival of Diwali is one of the most important days to Hindus and Indians, Indian American organizations and many lawmakers from all over the world have been trying to get an official stamp issued in the name of this festival, which has finally bore fruit and hence when recently pushed by two American influential lawmakers, a resolution was put forward to the US Senate calling on the US Postal Service to introduce Diwali stamps as the same has been done for other festivals, like, Christmas, Hannukah, Eid, Kwanzah.

Diwali stamp. Image source US Postal Service

“This commemorative stamp is an important recognition of the significance of Diwali to more than three million Indian- Americans and one billion Indians worldwide,” said Senator Mark Warner, Co-Chair of Senate Indian Caucus, who introduced the legislation along with Senator John Cornyn. Thanks to these two lawyers, the US Postal service will commemorate this ecstatic day by issuing the Diwali stamp as a Forever stamp. This Forever stamp will also be equal in value to the current First Class Mail 1-ounce price. Sally Andersen-Bruce of New Milford, CT, photographed the diya. Greg Breeding of Charlottesville, VA, designed the stamp and William J. Gicker of Washington, DC, service as the project’s art director.

Tuksi Gabbard. Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

After so many years of practicing this occasion, the US will mow honor it itself. Indeed a proud moment for Hindus, the lawyers and all the people who put their efforts to make this happen.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard congratulated everyone with the following message:

“Congratulations and thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to get the Diwali stamp approved in the U.S.! The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the joyous Hindu festival of Diwali with a Forever stamp on Wednesday, October 5th, at a dedication ceremony which will take place at the Indian Embassy in New York City.

This has been a long and arduous process but this act by the U.S. Postal Service to recognize this special day and to further increase and enrich our nation’s tapestry of religious and cultural diversity will be greatly appreciated by many.